This is the mall multiplex writ large and it’s hard to miss because it’s the first thing you see on your right as you arrive from the parking lots. Given its 4,800 seats in 20 theaters on two stories, it’s unlikely you have anything quite like it at home.
The soaring lobby is decorated with giant black and white banners depicting cinema heartthrobs, and escalators whisk you past them to the nine theaters upstairs. The theaters range in size from an intimate 150 seats to nearly 600. Unfortunately, 20 theaters does not mean 20 films. Expect the usual assortment of first-run features with the very latest releases playing in multiple theaters and, on weekends, midnight screenings of cult favorites. If you live in or near any moderately sized city in the United States, chances are all the films playing at the Cineplex are playing back home; it’s just that here they’re all under one roof. Of course, all the theaters here have stadium seating with plush high-backed seats that rock gently, and the screens are about twice the size of those you are probably used to. The Cineplex shows the new digital 3-D films and charges a premium price when it does (given in parentheses in the list below). Every theater is also equipped with Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS), touted as “the most advanced digital cinema sound system in the marketplace today.” So all in all, catching a movie here is a viable option for a rainy Florida afternoon.
Admission (including tax) for adults is $9 ($11) for evening shows; seniors (60+) are $7 ($9) and students (13+ with photo ID) are $8 ($10). Bargain matinees (all shows that start before 6 p.m.) are $7 ($9). Children 2 to 12 pay $6 ($8) at all times. “A.M. Cinema” (shows that start before noon on weekends and holidays) are $5 ($7). Annual Pass holders pay $7 in the evenings, regardless of the type of film being shown.
In addition to the regular box office windows, there are vending machines to your right that allow you to skip the line and purchase tickets, at no extra charge, using your credit card. More detailed information can be obtained from a human being by calling (407) 354-3374.
Don’t worry about going hungry while you watch. There is the usual array of soft drinks, popcorn, and candy, all at inflated prices. More interesting are the mini-pizzas, nachos, and ice cream sundaes. There’s even a coffee bar if you crave a latte and another bar serving up exotic cocktails, beer, and wine coolers.
A major disappointment, in my view, is the lack of a “revival house” — a theater dedicated to showing classic films. Since Universal Studios produced films by Mae West, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers, among many other greats, this would be a logical addition. It would also be a terrific way for Universal to help educate the next generation of filmmakers who have precious few opportunities to see the great films of the past. On the other hand, the Cineplex has regular midnight performances of cult classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Moulin Rouge, complete with a live cast of bizarro fans in costume acting out on stage, so maybe I shouldn’t complain.
Tip: You may want to exit on the upper level, even if you are seeing a film on the Cineplex’s bottom level. From there you can either descend the narrow zigzag street lined with shops, or stroll along the sloping Promenade, home to CityWalk’s row of restaurants and nightclubs.
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